NBC, the first broadcast network to present its 2015-16 lineup on May 11, has been one step ahead this pilot season — making the first pilot order to drama Warrior and being the first network to give pilots permission to begin staffing with nods to dramas The Player (formerly Endgame), Blindspot andHeartbreaker (formerly Heart Matters). Now NBC has become the first network to pick up pilots to series for next season — Blindspot, Heartbreaker and Chicago Fire spinoff, Chicago Med, which had been fully expected to go to series, likely for midseason where fellow spinoff Chicago PD launched successfully.

The only mild surprise in the first NBC series pickups is that they featured three of the four dramas that had been considered locks for a series order following the staffing permissions earlier this week, leaving out The Player.

However, for those who have followed closely the NBC-Sony TV upfront dynamic, this should not come as a shocker. Two years ago, when NBC made the bulk of their pilot orders, one title was conspicuously missing, NBC’s highest-testing drama pilot in 10 years, the Sony-produced The Blacklist. It was picked up later in a complex deal between NBC and Sony TV that reportedly included a small stake in the show for NBC, a Monday 10 PM slot for The Blacklist as well as series pickups of two other Sony TV pilots, medical drama The Night Shift and comedy Welcome To The Family, and a renewal of Community.

The Player, which comes from the same production company as The Blacklist, Davis Entertainment, also has been flying high, and is currently staffing in anticipation of a series order. If history is any indication, its pickup may again be a part of intense negotiations between NBC and Sony that may again involve ownership, The Night Shift as well as another drama pilot the independent studio has at NBC, Game of Silence. (I hear there have been no talks between the two companies yet.) The Night Shift‘s chances got complicated today by the pickup of two new medical shows, procedural Chicago Med and soapy drama Heartbreaker starring Melissa George.

The Chicago Med pickup gives Dick Wolf four drama series on NBC next season, three in the Chicago Fire franchise plus Law & Order: SVU. The order for Blindspot also brings the number of broadcast series produced by Greg Berlanti next season to 4, including Arrow, The Flash and the Arrow-Flash spinoff. He also has pilot Supergirl in strong consideration at CBS and freshman series The Mysteries Of Laura in renewal contention at NBC.

Blindspot, from Warner Bros. TV, had been a standout at NBC from the get-go. The conspiracy/mystery drama, written and executive produced by Martin Gero, got early attention by landing two of the most heavily pursued actors this pilot season, Jaimie Alexander and Sullivan Stapleton.

Heartbreaker and Chicago Med both hail from NBC’s sibling Universal Television, Heartbreaker, written by Jill Gordon and produced by Amy Brenneman, was a favorite script back in January. And Chicago Med, from Dick Wolf, Matt Olmstead, Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, sealed its pickup with a strong ratings showing for the planted spinoff episode of Chicago Fire featuring the medical drama’s cast, led by Oliver Platt and S. Epatha Merkerson. Here are details about NBC’s newly picked up drama series:

“BLINDSPOT”

From executive producer Greg Berlanti (“Arrow,” “The Flash,” “The Mysteries of Laura”) comes “Blindspot”: A vast international plot explodes when a beautiful Jane Doe is discovered naked in Times Square, completely covered in mysterious, intricate tattoos with no memory of who she is or how she got there. There’s one that’s very clear, however: the name of FBI agent Kurt Weller, emblazoned across her back. “Jane,” Agent Weller and rest of the FBI quickly realize that each mark on her body is a crime to solve, leading them closer to the truth about her identity and the mysteries to be revealed.

Martin Gero serves as writer and executive producer. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and director Mark Pellington (pilot) also executive produce. “Blindspot” is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions.

“CHICAGO MED”

Executive producer Dick Wolf delivers the newest installment of the compelling “Chicago” franchise, an emotional thrill ride through the day-to-day chaos of the city’s most explosive hospital and the courageous team of doctors who hold it together. They will tackle unique new cases inspired by topical events, forging fiery relationships in the pulse-pounding pandemonium of the emergency room, and through it all, familiar faces from the Chicago police and fire departments will intertwine as this third team of Chicago heroes hits the ground running.

Based on the real life and achievements of Dr. Kathy Magliato, this unique character-driven medical drama follows Dr. Alex Panttiere (Melissa George, “The Slap”), an outspoken world-renowned heart-transplant surgeon and one of the few women in her field. Stubborn and fearless, Alex always operates on her own terms. She revels in a racy personal life that’s a full-time job in itself, manages the daily demands of skeptical faculty and dutiful interns, and pushes the boundaries of medical science to impressive new heights.

It’s great. It’s the next Jane the Virgin. But I agree that NBC isn’t the right network.

Iakovos • on May 1, 2015 2:40 pm

I hope NBC strikes gold with at least one of these. I personally am over anything with an international plot and a mystery that cannot be sustained over four or five seasons. NBC needs long-running hits. CHICAGO MED is comfort food (I love me some S. Epatha Merkerson!), and HEARTBREAKER has a bit of CHICAGO HOPE/GREY’S ANATOMY vibe to it. Maybe.

Ugh • on May 1, 2015 3:00 pm

I will be very upset if The Night Shift gets canceled for Chicago Med. The acting on TNS is some of the best on TV (and WAY better than that on Chicago Med – please recast some of the roles!) AND the show focuses on actual medicine instead of soapy characters.

But I am not naive – clearly this pickup is part of NBCs plan to make Dick Wolf their Shonda. I hate it when a really good show gets pushed aside as part of a business deal.

Shine • on May 1, 2015 4:11 pm

I’m expecting The NIght Shift Season 3 to be pushed to Summer 2016 personally. It’s not doing that badly when compared to most of the networks other shows. I think it’ll be renewed.

anon • on May 1, 2015 11:32 pm

Too much dependence on one franchise like putting all your eggs in one basket. Now they are stuck with it.

vince • on May 3, 2015 3:56 pm

TNS has awful ratings though considering it gets The Voice as a lead-in.

TV Writer • on May 1, 2015 3:24 pm

LOL. When I first heard about BLINDSPOT, I thought, that’s the most contrived, derivative, terrible idea ever. It will definitely get picked up. Sad to see I’m right. Man, who under the age of 50 can still sit through a network drama other than The Good Wife?

Karla • on May 1, 2015 5:46 pm

I thought the same thing – body covered with tatoos that are clues to something feels like it’s been done a lot. But I guess everything depends on how it’s done. As for medical shows, I work in medicine & every single medical show ever is so inaccurate I can’t handle watching (well Scrubs was good) so won’t be bothering there.

There are enough medical dramas floating around that I don’t think The Night Shift will be affected, unless the timing competes. If they would just recast the actor who plays Will Halstead, I may watch it. I just don’t like the character, maybe it’s the acting, or it’s the Jay reacted to his brothers appearance on screen, but I’m having trouble caring about him.

Pete • on May 1, 2015 5:32 pm

Congrats Robbie!

Anonymous • on May 1, 2015 6:10 pm

Good to hear… as I want Greenblatt and his cronies fired. He’s been at NBC for 4 years and has launched zero scripted hits.

Anonymous • on May 1, 2015 9:48 pm

While, apart from the brilliant Hannibal (seriously, how on earth did this series find its way to network TV let alone NBC?), there are no programs on NBC that truly excite me, it would be, I think, inaccurate and arguably unfair to say the creative team has launched zero scripted hits, right? The concepts may be underwhelming, the casting uninspired, but the network performs solidly, in some cases “perfectly”; and as the measure of success in the business that is television is not accolades but a particular segment of the audience, NBC has no reason to be so chastised, does it?

what • on May 2, 2015 8:59 pm

I bet this is just someone aiming for his job haha. If you’re gonna attack someone like that so specifically, how about you use your real name too? #jerk

“Blindspot” definitely has a chance to become a much-needed hit for NBC. It’s thrilling and mysterious, procedural-y enough. Loved it!
“Heartbreak” is cheesy and outdated. I don’t understand why NBC goes for it. Expect a quick cancellation with this one!

Bracket Guy • on May 1, 2015 7:22 pm

Chicago Med will likely be a guarantee to do well.

The Chico Kid • on May 2, 2015 6:33 am

Dick Wolf should be thanking his lucky stars that Olmstead, Brandt and Haas saved his name in television…

Tim • on May 2, 2015 9:22 am

Sounds redundant and so Berlanti. Just shock for shock sake. Of course she’s naked and covered with tatoos in Times Square. It’s a WBTV show. Women are still objects on WB shows and don’t move plot.

How bout “Constantine”??
Any word of that being re-newed for a 2nd season on NBC?
I love that show, and I’m not alone!
Please give that show another shot!!
#saveconstantine

Anonymous • on May 2, 2015 1:52 pm

I thought Supergirl was direct to series

annmarie.fifi.ring@gmail.com • on May 4, 2015 7:35 pm

I just can’t believe that it looks like the incredible David Lyons may have made another pilot for NBC, that’s never going to see the light of day! I was really hoping they’d pick up Game Of Silence, but that’s not looking so good right now…